Places to visit in Berlin
Reichstag Tour
This is a tour that I would recommend to anyone going to Berlin. Admittedly, the finger could be pointed at me as a teacher but this tour will not disappoint. The tour is free but you can register prior to your visit (this is recommended as it will save you time). As well as a tour of the Reichstag (with 1945 Russian graffiti thrown in), you gain access to the Dome atop of the building which is worth the trip in itself.
The Berlin Olympic Stadium
A tour for the sports minded or anyone who is interested in history. Due to the work of Leni Riefenstahl, this is a site that will forever be linked to the exploits of Jesse Owens and the propaganda of Josef Goebbels. Pay your entrance fee and you can embark on a self directed wander around the grounds. Dependent on when you are here, you may catch a football match, concert or another event that is being held on the site. There are a range of tour options available and is a relatively short rail trip from the centre of the city.
Soviet Monument, Treptower Park
Catch the S-Bahn to Treptower Park station, take your time walking through the park (situated along the Spree) before arriving at the memorial. The site opened in 1949 to commemorate 7,000 of the 80,000 Russians killed in the Battle of Berlin and served as the central war memorial of East Germany during the DDR’s existence.
Tempelhof Airport
While not strictly a Cold War memorial, iconic images of planes landing in an attempt to counter Stalin’s Berlin Blockade are firmly linked to this airport. The Templehof was closed to air traffic in 2009 and the 953 acre site was reimagined as a state park. Visit the terminal for the history, visit the airfield for the space.
Wannsee Conference House
The Wannsee Conference House, located in Berlin’s Wannsee district, is historically significant as the site where high-ranking Nazi officials convened on January 20, 1942, to coordinate the logistics of the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question.” The conference, chaired by SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich, brought together 15 high-ranking Nazi officials to discuss and plan the implementation of the systematic genocide of European Jews under the guise of bureaucratic coordination. The house is now a memorial and museum, offering guided tours and exhibitions that detail the events of the conference, the Holocaust’s history, and the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime. It stands as a memorial to the victims and aims to educate visitors about this dark chapter in history.
Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial (Stasi Prison)
Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial is a tour with a difference. Not only do you get a taste of life in a Stasi Prison, you could be guided by an ex-inmate. The site provides an insight into prison life in the former East Germany between 1946 to 1990. English speaking tours are available but in with over 400,000 visitors per year, it is essential to book before arrival (groups are capped at 20 people). If you miss a tour, there is a permanent exhibition which contains 300 photos and nearly 500 artefacts including prison clothes and letters from former inmates.
Jewish Museum
Opened in 2001, the Museum tracks social, political and cultural history of the Jewish people in Germany from the middle ages through to the present day. Both the artefacts exhibited within and architecture of the site make it a unique experience. One of the must-do things at the museum is to interact with the installation, Shalekhet ( Fallen Leaves ) by Menashe Kadishman. Over 10,000 faces cut from iron plates are strewn over an enclosed area known as the Memory Void. Walk into the space and listen to the sound that is created. Definitely an experience you will remember.
The Topography of Terror
The topography is one of those museums which is a must see while in Berlin. It is however, far from an “easy” visit as it looks at the activities of the SS, Gestapo & the Reich Security that existed between 1933-45. The site itself is free and is located on the original land that housed the Gestapo, Reich SS leadership and Reich Security Main Office during their time in power. An added extra is a reminder of another period of oppression in the remains of the Berlin Wall. Go but prepare yourself for an experience that will certainly stay with you.
Memorials to the Victims of National Socialism
Ownership of the past is a highly commendable trait, especially when that past is less than favourable. Germany’s willingness to own their history is best summed up in both the presentation and accessibility of these memorials. Each of the sites highlight a period that illustrated the extremes of humanity. The following are sites that are worthy of a visit, be it as a mark of respect or for your own education. Some are located in Mitte while others you will need to travel outside of central Berlin.
- Memorial to the Dead Jews of Europe
- Memorial to the Sinti & Roma of Europe
- Monument to the Persecuted Homosexuals
- Orte des Erinnerns (Places of Remembrance), Bayerischer Platz
- Memorial to the Victims of Euthanasia Murders (T4 Project)
- Wannsee Conference House, Wannsee
- Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp (Oranienberg)
Click on the link to access more images and links for information on the different sites.
Museum Island
If you like a good museum or 5, you have definitely hit the jackpot here. The fact that this area is a world heritage site provides an insight into its cultural importance. The five museums located on the island are
Altes (Old) Museum – Opened in 1830 to house the Prussian royal family’s art collection, now houses Greek and Roman art and sculptures.
Neues (New) Museum – Houses exhibits from Europe & the Middle East up to the Middle Ages. Best known as the home of Nefertiti.
Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) – 19th Century art & sculptures from artists such as Menzel, Monet, Cezanne & Renoir.
Bode-Museum – Byzantine Art, sculptures and a collection of old masters paintings are among the featured exhibits here
Pergamon Museum – One of the most popular stops on the island. It houses exhibits such as the Ishtar Gate, Market Gate of Miletus & the Processional Way of Babylon. The site will be undergoing extensive renovations from Oct.2023 through to 2027.
Cold War Memorials
While the period leading up to 1945 is well covered in Berlin, the post-war period is equally well represented. While the Soviet Union & East German no longer exist, memorials to both former political entities are littered through the city. Constant reminders of a time when Berlin was not as free and open as it is today, are littered throughout the city. Spend a little time visiting them, keeping in touch with the past is the best way to appreciate what the we have in the present.
Random activities
The following images cover a range of things that you can do while you are in Berlin. I have covered most of the following in my most recent trip (2022-23), blog or in previous trips but placing them here may trigger a possible activity during your visit. It may range from a favourite feed, an interesting site or a memory that was shared with me originally.
